sodium

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  • Sodium

Sodium.jpgsodium2.jpg
Facts
  • Discovered by Sir Humphrey Davy.
  • Was discovered in 1807
  • Symbol = Na, Atomic Number = 11, Atomic Mass = 22
  • NA stands for Natrium Which is the latin term for sodium.
  • Protons = 11
  • Neutrons = 12
  • Electrons = 11
  • It is found in the ocean as a liquid and also found under the earth in salt banks.
  • Melting Point: 370.87 K (97.72 oC)
  • Boiling point: 1156 K (883 oC)
  • Abundance earth's crust: 2.4 % by weight, 2.1 % by moles
  • Density: 0.971 g/cm³
  • Sodium has many uses. Various industries including petroleum, chemicals, soaps, textiles and paper have found sodium compounds extremely beneficial for their processes. Sodium is also used for food. It is used to make the food taste better as well as keep it fresh and safe from germs.

FUN FACTSJ
Fun facts brought to you by http://www.buzzle.com/articles/interesting-facts-about-sodium.html
  • Sodium has 13 isotopes, of which only one isotope is stable.
  • Sodium when brought in contact with air, readily oxidizes and forms oxides.
When Sodium is brought in contact with water, it explodes, forming sodium hydroxide along with the release of a large amount of heat.
  • Sodium is the fourth most abundant element and makes up almost 2.6% of the Earth's crust. It is also relatively abundant in stars.
  • Among the many interesting facts about sodium, one is that the sodium element is highly reactive, which makes the storage of pure sodium a very Herculean task. The best way to store sodium safely is by immersing it into liquid hydrocarbons, such as kerosene
  • Sodium is used in some alloys, so as to improve their structure, and is used to descale the surface of many metals. Metallic sodium is used in the process of purifying some reactive metals, such as zirconium from their compounds
  • sodium is used in several industries such as chemical, metal, paper, petroleum, textile, etc, where it is used to prepare sodium compounds such as common salt, baking soda, borax, sodium nitrate, etc.
  • Sodium is also used to make vapor lamps, which are used in street lights. Vapor lamps can produce light from electricity very efficiently. It acts as a heat transfer liquid and is used in some nuclear reactors.
  • Sodium is a significant ingredient in soap manufacturing along with fatty acids
  • Common salt, also known as sodium chloride is a combination of the minerals sodium and chlorine. 40% sodium and 60% chlorine form sodium chloride. This compound of sodium is present in the modern food items in large quantities.
  • Sodium chloride enhances or brings out the flavor of food items. It also affects the fermentation in cheese processing, and bread dough development. It is important to texture baked good made with yeast.

  • Sodium chloride is used for preservation of food products, such as pickles and other canned products. It protects them from the growth of bacteria, mold and yeast. Food items with the words cured, smoked, pickled and brine indicate that the food product has high levels of sodium. It also helps hold the processed meat together, such as pepperoni, salami, sausage, etc.
  • Common salt can be sprinkled over cupboards to keep the ants away. They can be also used to clean coffee pots, and can be added to the water in the vase to keep flowers alive for a longer time.
  • Sodium is important to the body, as it along with potassium regulates the fluid balance in the body. Salt regulates blood pressure, aids nerve impulse transmission and along with other minerals, it helps in muscle relaxation. These were some of the sodium nutrition facts.
  • The amount of sodium consumed is way higher than the amount of sodium actually needed by the body. Sodium from common salt can have a negative impact on the health of people suffering from hypertension. In healthy people, the excess sodium is excreted, however, the excess amount can spearhead kidney diseases, hypertension or other diseases.